Maestro at the Opera begins tonight on BBC Two at 9pm, the first of three programmes which chart the progress of four celebrities who are undergoing training as a conductor at the Royal Opera House. The participants have been introduced to everything that goes into making an opera performance behind the scenes as well as conducting, working with the Orchestra and also the singers who have to act at the same time. They have also been working on phrasing, interpretation – making the music mean something.

Needless to say, neither the BBC, nor the ROH, thinks that anybody can become a qualified operatic conductor in ten weeks. To be a real Maestro takes not only talent, but years and years of hard work, training and experience, and the conductors appearing at ROH are some of the best in the world, already with distinguished careers internationally.

So the aim of the series – through the journey of the contestants – is to open up the wonderful world of an opera house to the contestants and to the viewers, and not to claim that anybody can learn conducting in a few weeks. To make the programmes exciting, there is of course the element of competition. And the prize for the most successful contestant is the chance to conduct a repeat of Act 2, fully staged, during tomorrow evening’s performance, Saturday 5 May.

We have written to all our audience members and invited those who might be unhappy with the repeat of Act 2 to contact us and we will do all we can to find a fitting solution for them. The repeat of Act 2 will only last approx 20-25 minutes, and we hope our audience will see it as an opportunity to take part in a unique event and enjoy the festive spirit, or take an extended interval. Of course this will not be a normal performance of this act, nor should it be judged as such. But it will of course be interesting to follow how far the contestant has come.

We very much hope our audience will look forward to seeing how this challenge plays out

Over the three-part series the contestants take a crash course in conducting opera, competing to lead the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in a live performance at Covent Garden. Each trainee conductor will be mentored through various trials and will meet with operatic experts, such as Royal Opera House Music Director Antonio Pappano, to learn about the complexities behind staging the art form.

“This challenge will probably be the most difficult any of the contestants will ever face in their professional lives, but I really hope it will be one of the most fulfilling experiences they ever have.”

Their performance on the podium will be judged each episode by members of the orchestra. The grand finale, in which the winner will conduct a repeat of the second act of Puccini’s La bohème,to be filmed this Saturday.

The first series of Maestro aired in 2008, and saw comedian Sue Perkins beat DJ Goldie to conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra at Proms in the Park.

Each conductor will have a mentor and learn about working with orchestras, soloists, choruses and the complexities of staging an opera. As with the first series of Maestro, the orchestra will have the final say. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House will decide which three competitors make it through to programme two, in which the competitors will have to conduct an operatic scene, specially staged for Maestro.

The series will also feature interviews with a number of world-renowned opera professionals including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Lesley Garrett, each of whom will give a personal insight into the world of opera.

Of the new series, Controller of BBC Two Janice Hadlow said: “Having pipped Goldie to the conductor’s podium in series one, it’s time for Sue Perkins to pass her champion’s baton to a brand new set of personalities who face a very different challenge. I look forward to seeing whether their natural musical ability will be enough to help them master the skills needed in the new series, which will take viewers right to the heart of one of the world’s greatest opera institutions.”

Director of The Royal Opera, Kasper Holten added: “Opera is the most dramatic and powerful of all the art forms bringing together words, music, design and drama – it’s the greatest theatrical experience. And standing at the helm on the podium in the orchestra pit is the conductor, the Maestro. This challenge will probably be the most difficult any of the contestants will ever face in their professional lives, but I really hope it will be one of the most fulfilling experiences they ever have.”

This new series of Maestro is an example of the partnership between the BBC and The Royal Opera House with both organisations coming together to co-produce new commissions.